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Friday, 18 December 2015

Yarndale Sock Line socks are go!

Actually, they've gone, all of them. Off to new homes and to provide toasty toes to people who need some extra socky love.If you're new to the blog (and welcome to you if you are!), then let me start at the beginning and explain with this Yarndale Sock Line thing is all about. It all began back in July of this year when I had been asked by people joining in with the Winwick Mum Sockalong about whether there would be any sock bunting at Yarndale this year. I thought this was an excellent idea but wanted the bunting to be useful, not hanging around year after year getting dusty and taking up space in my garage that could be usefully filled by the other mountains of junk that I hide store there. I wanted to give the pairs of socks away to people who would need them after they had been displayed and admired at Yarndale, and you can read that first post here.You never know how these ideas are going to be received, but I knew that however many pairs were gifted - two? ten? twenty? - they would be gratefully received. However, just like with the Sockalong, I had completely underestimated how many people would want to join in! In August, I was able to show you all the pairs that were in progress and it wasn't long before the socks started flooding in - more pairs than I had ever imagined, from all over the world. So many generous people giving their time and their so that their socks could be gifted to strangers. Lucy from Attic24 had very kindly let me use her Post Office address so all the socks were waiting for me in Skipton when I got there in September. It was like waiting for Christmas all through that summer! I knew the socks were coming in, Lucy gave me regular updates on how many parcels had arrived - but I couldn't open them to see! Finally the day came when I hurtled up the motorway to Yorkshire and Lucy and I spent a happy morning admiring what came out of the parcels and packets - it really was like Christmas!

More and more socks arrived until the Yarndale weekend at the end of September. Seventy-five (yes, seventy-five, 75, seven-five!) pairs of socks were hanging on the Sock Line that weekend and each one of them was destined to go to someone who needed to know that someone else in the world had been thinking of them. Each pair, complete with their own little message of joy and love, would warm the feet of a stranger, and I was humbled to see them all hanging there, a gift of love from so many people.And now here we are, with just days to go before Christmas, and the socks are all either on their way or already at their new homes. I had wanted to send them out earlier but personal circumstances meant that my plans were delayed. Still, better late than never!I had already catalogued each pair of socks - you can see all the pictures here on Pinterest - and I listed them all on a spreadsheet with the knitter's name and location, the colour and size of the socks and whether they were for men or ladies.

Next, it was time for the phone calls - what a lovely job that was! I had already discovered that the big charities either didn't want or have time to deal with pairs of socks so with the help of people on the blog and in the Facebook groups, I got in contact with smaller, local organisations who knew of people that they could give the socks to directly, and were delighted to do so. Some places only needed a few pairs, others were pleased to have more. I was just pleased that they were so pleased to have them!

I set the socks out on the table so that it was easier to pick them out. It might just look like a pile of socks here ...

but there was method in the madness - ladies' socks to the left, children's socks at the bottom, unisex socks at the top right and men's socks at the bottom left, with the baby socks tucked in between. Don't they look wonderful?

I ended up with little piles of socks all over the kitchen - on the working top ...

and on the table - even on the chair! It was a real sock-fest, and I loved it! J

The next job was to parcel them all up and get them off to the Post Office. You might be wondering where they were all going, and I'm going to tell you - but you'll have to wait just a bit longer! They have gone to wonderful organisations who are doing great work with so many people.

I have listed all the organisations and where each pair of socks has gone here so that you can see - and if you knitted a pair, you know exactly where your pair are!

Thank you so much to everyone who got involved in the Yarndale Sock Line this year - you exceeded all my expectations and just so that you can see how much they are appreciated, I am sure that Claire House Children's Hospice won't mind me sharing their email with you:

Hi Christine,

Thank you so much for the lovely socks. They turned up
yesterday !!! We are thrilled with them!!! They are amazing !!

22 comments:

You should feel proud for leading this wonderful project Christine and everyone else who made socks should feel proud too!!! You are all wonderful, and I am sure that this little piece of love will be appreciated by everyone who receives a pair of socks this Christmas. Warm feet are a very important thing and perhaps these will warm peoples hearts too. It certainly warms my heart and I am not even wearing any socks right now! A fabulous end to the year!! Thank you!! Happy Christmas!! xx

Amy, I am extraordinarily proud of this project, and of everyone who was kind enough to make it into what it became. There are some very generous people in the world and it's lovely to know that their generosity will make life just a bit warmer for people, even for a short while. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas too! xx

What a lovely post and thanks for the info! I just spent some time with knitting friends and for some, the subject was sock knitting! I managed 5 pairs in the end this year (as a novice sock maker) and am delighted my Yarndale pair will keep someone cosy this winter. I will happily join in anything similar in the future.Have a brilliant 2016 and a good Xmas. Abbi

Hi Christine, when I read about your Yarndale socks it warms my heart. You have taken your passion for knitting socks and completed something that gives love, compassion and warmth to others. It's really a fantastic idea that you have accomplished. What a nice gift to receive for those in need. I think this is what the holiday season is truly about. I've so enjoyed getting to know you via your blog. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. Hugs, Pat xx

What lovely words, Pat, thank you for taking the time to write them. I've loved reading your blog this year too - isn't it wonderful that we are able to see into corners of the world that we would never know anything about thanks to the internet? It's not all bad! xx

You are an absolute treasure Christine ...taking the time to detail each pair of socks. What a blessing! Wonderful to be part of it and lots of love and thanks to you! Corinne x x PS Thinking of you this first Christmas without your Dad. Hugs and prayers x

Thank you, Corinne. I felt that it was important for everyone to see what had happened to their pairs of socks - I think that it completes the whole process. I often wonder what happens after I've donated money or items, and it's nice to be able to tell people in this case :-) xx

Brilliant job Christine well done and all for such good causes. I have thoroughly enjoying being part of your sockalong and will continue to do so (second sock needs to be finished for a man's size 11 foot) by next Thursday!! Merry Christmas and a healthy Happy New Year to you and your family xx Joy xx

I'm so pleased that I joined in this project, the socks have found some well deserving homes and I'm sure the recipients will be very thankful for them. I love how we know where each pair of socks have found a home, it must have taken lots of time sorting it all out and keeping such detailed records so thank you for that. I see lots of organisations where the socks were donated to are in my neck of the woods.

There must be a lot of people in your neck of the woods who are knitters who suggested them, Jo! If we do it again next year, we might get a different spread of organisations - it would be good to see what happened! :-) xx

Hi Christine, well done on such a wonderful project! I'm sad though that I've only just discovered it. I live in Leeds and have been to all of the Yarndale's so far but until today hadn't heard of this project. I think it's Facebook being very selective over what it shows on my news feed, grrrr! I'm not an experienced Sock knitter - only ever done 2 pairs but have wanted to do more but not felt confident enough. Your sockalong Facebook page was mentioned by someone in another page I follow and so following links I ended up here! I'm so glad I found you, I'll be doing socks for Yarndale '16 if you repeat the project! Xxxxxx